Strainer and control valve



.Sept; 23, I930. w. VAN E. THOMPSON 1,776,456

STRAINER AND CONTROL VALVE Filed Nov. 50, 1927 /N VEN 70/? Patented Sept. 23, 1930 WALTER VAN crnomrson, or LosANGELEs, CALIFORNIA, assrenon '10 'rnomrson MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, or LOS ANGELES, CAL FORNIA; A CORPORATION 01 oamromvm I ,STRAINER AND oonrnon vALvE Application med November 30, 1927; Serial m5. 236,747. Q 7

invention relatesu to irrigationfsysterns, and more particularly to a novel strainer-valve for use vvithla sprinkler irrigation system,this application beinga continuation in part of my applic'at1on, .Ser1al I No; 188,428, filed 'May3,192f(,for regu'la a strainer valve.

' j I Irrigationsystems,such asare used for ifi rigating orchards or other large areas, usual,-

1y have'alseries of underground headers, mm which verticallpipes extend. 'When these systems arevu'seld in orchards, the verticalpi'pesextend upward and have a nozzle at the extreme upper, end thereof, these nozzlesfbeing situated a plane above'rthe tops of the'trees ofthe'orchard. In vievv' of the fact that the Water. carries foreign particles, such, as gravel orsmall. snail shells, the nozz lesfrequently become clogged and it is necessaryi' to removevthein from the upper ends of the vertical pipes in order that they maybe cleaned. This ordinarily is acostly r and tedious job. 2

, Itis one of the'obj ects of thisinvention to providea novel strainer which may be placed in the'vertical pipes near the surface of the ground so that-foreign mattermay be aCcumulated therein and prevented from passing 1 into the nq zasw V l V, f ,Theivvater-pressure atfthef-difi'erent vertical p'ipes'isnot constant, but changeswith Soa-Isothe pressure at the different vertical p pe -may geidu to a C een p es: sure of the Water supply," In order ,to have the sprinklers .at different parts, of the area valve may be conveniently placed adjacent to thestrainer and by suitable adjustment it is possible to correctly balance a lafrge num- 'ber of sprinklers irrigating a givenareaj It-is an object of my invention to provide fluid flovv through this particular pipe. This maybe accomplished by means of thecontrol valve, but ,in so doing this particular sprinkler 1s thrown out of adjustment, and

often the entire irrigationsystem isthrown out of balance so that extensive readjust- Inents must be made.

, It 's an obje'ct of my invention co provide a strainer valve ofthe character heretofore ment oned n whiclrfluid may be shut 0H UNITED 1-STATE'S PAT T Without disturbing the adjustment of the V control valve.

A further object of myjnvention is to provide' a nov'ell typerof valve for controlling Further objects and advantagesof my in v vent-ion will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings: a,

Fg. l is autility view showing an orchard 1 equipped With overhead sprinklers embodyo thein'umber 0f sprinklers supplied froin'ffa :si'ngle header, the relativepositionsjotthe sprinklers with respect to the'headejnand the friction head in the underground piping.

V Fig-. 4: is aperspec ti've View illustrating my noveltypeofucontrolvalve.

Refernngto Fig. .1, vth numeral l1 represents, an underground header to which ver tical sprinkler ,pipes'l2 are connected, the upper ends] of these sprinkler pipes being provided with sprinkler heads 13, which may be of either the stationary .or -the revolving,

type. These sprinkler heads 13 are adapted to irrigate trees 140i an orchardQProvided in each of the vertical sprinkler pipes 12 at a distance of four orstive feet above the surfaceof the gro und, is a strainer: valve 15cmb'odying the features vof this invention;

Thestrainer-valvetl5 ismost clearly shown at Pies. 2to landcomprisesabody 18 which is nearly spheric'al'in shape; Extended from the lower portion of the body 18 is a projec- "10 tion 19 which tlneadedly receives a'lower pipe of the vertical, sprinkler pipe 12.

The upper portion of the body 18 is provided b with a projection 22 which threadedly receives and supports an upper pipe 23' of the vertical sprinkler pipe 12. It will be noted that the lower pipe20' is larger in diameter thantheupperipipe 2-3. This is desirable inasmuch as thelower pipe .20 is the intake pipe, and the pipe 23 is the outlet pipe, and byeniaking them of rclifi'crent diameteraiit pc sihle o a ays supply antiple anieunt of fluid to the interior of the body 18.

A separating wall 25 ext, e1,-1 (l1s, acJj:loss; the,

interior of the body 18, forming a primary chamber 26 in communication with thewim terior of the lowerpipe 20. Attached to the separating-Wall 2 5 and'al'so to the body 18 is an "inclined v wall28'. This inclined wall 22--t0gether withith'e separating wall: 25, defines a secondary chamber 30;] The prinary-and secondary 'chambers are in comniunication through an 0pening 32' in the wall 25;,uris openingbeing on an: axis A'A or the strainer -valve 1 -5 asbest illustrated Screwed into *the opening 32 is a double seat-member 34 'hav-ing'an opening 35' therein. "Adapted'togclose the 'o-pening 35 shut-ofi valve comprises. a valve membenS'S which is'threadedly received in anopening ijn't-he body 18. 'The'fvalve 38" ma y be turned a suitable soclret wrench'and niay thus be *r'nov edv i'from *itsfull line position shown in Fig. '2, into its dottedline posi'tion v the primary chamber into the secondary indi atedbythe IiumeralftOa When in the dotted-Pine posit-ion, no "fluid-may pass iron;

1 body 18 and to bear agains one end ofthe strainer 47; thus clamping the strainer be;

tween the seat member 34" and the strainer cap'502 It shouldibe' noted that the "strainer: 7 4:7- is concentric with the axis A -A and that the interior thereofcommunicates; with the primary chamber 26, through the opening interstices. 53 are iormedflthrough the gamete, thus allowing Ifluidi to pass from the interior of the strainer into the secondary fcham'ber30; Th e interstilces 53 ar'e, small in sizefand are'adapted to prevent the passageof 1 anyagravel or other foreign matterinto the fluid, th-is' foreign matteraccumulating in "an accumulation .chamber55f in the lowermost portion of the strainer't'r'. By unscrewing the strainer cap jfi'dthe strainer 47' may be readily removed and the foreign matter may be removed" from the accumulation chamber r 4 b formed the inclinedfwal'l; is an open:

ing Whichis circular'in cross section; and;

which communicates between the secondary chamber 30' and a valve chamber 61.

A cylindrical tip portion 6270f a control valve is adapted to fit in the opening 60.

The control valve 65 has a bo dy'66 which is threadedlyreceived in an opening 670i the body 18 The'body 66 is cylindricalin cross sectionand has an 'opening'68 extending "therethraugh, tl1 is-.opcning being closed .at the, l werend bya plateififi-c; fllheupperend 5. 7 of the'body 66'isjfor1ned indicatedat 69 tQlZQQQiYQ atcolwhich is formed to fit therein this tool being adapted to vary the axial position of the body 66-relative to the openns v .1:

1 The lower end of the tip portion'62 of'the control; val've'-6'5v I has a pair of notches These notches are diametricallyaligned and 'are pre ferably a V shape havingfa n apex; -7 6.. The relative position of thevalve bo dyg'66 and'the' body 18 determines'the axli'al position of the tip portion 62 relative to? the opening When the et vias is Samaria i a ward into a position shown in full li'nes' -in Fig. 2', the apex 760i eachnotch 75is" below the upper surfaceofithe inclined wall 28, so

that noffluidmayescape fron the secondary I chamber intothe' valve beware-'1: when the valvebody66 is turned so as'gtowithdravv it; slightly, the "notch 75 will assume; a position indicated in Fig. 4. :Ait this 'ti'me'ffluid under pressure-in the secondaryichamber '30 may escape finto the valve chamber 6l through; a triangular opening 79' defined between each apex 7 6' and the upper surfaceofthe inclined wall 28. Substantially nofluid will escape through the inclined wall 28 around the periphery of the tip. portion 62 inasmuchas'the tip portion formsa sliding fitwith the opening Q60; If the valve body 66is' unscrewed ce o into a position indicated the; dotted lines 5910f 2, the openings f'Z9jbec'0ine "larger inasmuch as the walls of thefnotches'7'5 diverge and. the apex 7 6 is drawn upward;

Inthe' dotted line position 80 theftip portion v 62 is,entirelyremovedirom the opening 60,, v

softhat a maximum amount or water flows from the secondary valve chamb ffi Q 1 The-controlvalve65;ofmy i vcn ii nis pan ticles'offoreign mattengi I have found that, 1 ll id 13 d q lr is lle f i dfi W' therefihroug'h" is dccreased'itosmall propors tio ls, these foreign particles tendto clog between such disc valve and 'itsse'ahinasmuch as averynarrow slit isat thistiine provided betweenthe seat' rand the discj ralve. Any; gravet or other foreign matter which might pass through the interstices'53 tends to clog I such asmall slit; In the form' offthevalv'e shown in the drawings the openings 7 9 throughwhichthe fluidpasses are triangular inashap; i 'r'lliusrthe 'openings '79.:wouldnot become clogged unless a particle ofzconsid- 7 enable diameter'be fcaughtzthereiniand such a sized particle could1-inot "possibly pass hrwehtm r int s ce Usinea Y disc valve 'forithefsame' mount ofkfiow would require that all particles passing therethrough valvetype.

would have to be much smaller in diameter than the width of the narrow slit. For this reason the typeof valve shown in the drawings is far superior to the well known disc Another advantage of my valve over, the

. ordinary disc valve is that when the valve is nearly closed, the streams-through the openiings 7 9 will befuniform. I have found by actual experience thatan' ordinary, disc valve tends to'readjust itself'when closed sufficiently so as to pass only asmall stream offluid,

thus precluding aisteady and uniform flow therethrough. f i A In opening my invention, the streams of desirable to remove the strainer unit 48 and 7 the accumulation chamber 55. \Before removing the strainer, 47 the shut off valve 37 is screwed inwardly into its dotted line posi- 'tion, in whichposition it allows no passage of fluid from the primary chamber 26 into the secondary chamber 30 -The strainerl47 is.

, then removed by unscrewing the cap 50 and ,sliding the strainer out along the axis A-A.

After cleaning the strainer 47, it is reinserted and clamped in place by the cap 50.; At this time the shut oif valve 37 is again unscrewed into its full line position, and fluid again passes into the interior ofthe strainer47 and J to the secondary chamber through the interstices 53. I It shouldbe clear that the adjustment of the control valve is not changed in 7 thus closing "the shut ofl valve 37. Thus the, irrigation system is not dis- (balance of the p p ja ndia controlivalve for controlling the rate turbed; V I

I claim as my invention:

1." In a control and strainer valve for an v irrigation system, the combination of: a

bodyhaving a ,fluiol'inlet in the lower part thereof, a fluid outlet in the upper part thereof,,an interiorjwall dividingsaid body into a primary chamber on one side and a secondary chamber on the other side thereof, said fluid inlet being connected tosaid pri- I mary chamber, and said fluid outlet being connected to said secondary chamber, an opening in said interior wall ]O1I1111g said primary chamber and said secondary cham her, and an external port connecting, said see- I ondary chamber'with: the exterior of said body, a ring within said opening having an internal double seat; :a strainer unit" disposedin saidasecondary chamber, said strainer unitincluding a-.hollow straineropen at one end, and a. strainer cap which closes the other, -.end of said hollow; strainer. and is screwed intosaid externalport, said hollow strainer being inclined with its.closed end lower thani-ts open end andhaving its open end 'seated on-one side of said seat, said strainer innit; being removable through said external sport without beingi moved from inclinedposition, and a shut-oif'valve in said primarychamberiiadaptedto seat on the iotheri'side of said seat; i i

c 2; Ina control andstrainer valve for'an irrigation system, the combination of: a body. having a: fluid inlet inthe' lower part thereof, :a fluid outletin the upperv part thereof,- an interior wall dividing said body into a primary chamber on one side and a secondary chamber on the other side thereof,

said flui'dvinlet-beingconnected to said pri- I mary:.chamber, and said fluid outlet being connected to said secondary chamber, an openingim saidniterior wall ]O1I11ng said primary chamber and said secondary chamher, an upper wall providing'a tertiary chamber between -.said' secondary chamber i and said fluid outletby means of which said secondary: chamber is connected to said fluid outlet, a passage in said upper wall, andan external. :port connecting said secondary chamber 'w ithathe exterior of said body, a strainer unit disposed in said secondary chamber, said [strainer unit including a hollow st'rainer openiat one end, and a strainer I cap which closes the other end of said hollowrstrainer and is screwed into said externa'lport, said hollow'strainer being inclined withits closed end lower than its open end andhaving its open end held against said walls separating'saidprimary and secondary chamberssothat the interior of said hollow strainer i is in communication with said opening, said; strainer unit,- being removable through said external port without being mo'ved'from inclined position, means in said primary chamber for closing said opening,

described, the

combination of: a body,1means dividing said body into a primary"chamberand a secondary chamber, a fluid inlet communicating with said primary chamber and afluid outlet communicating with said secondary J chamher, an opening through said dividing means whereby fluid may flow through said chambers from. said inlet to said: outlet, a ring within/said opening having an internal double seat, a tubular strainer unit in said secondary chamber having one end; thereof seated on one sideof saidseat and the ,bOttOl'l'l era ed? i ie iee dew nvard ytew r h off valve in said vprimary 1 chamber adapted to seat one-the rothe-riside f -said:seat',1and a control valve in said'secondary chamber adjustable tovary. the amount offluid discharge ing from saidt' secondary chamber through saidfoutletQ 1 a. In adevice combination of: a body, means edividing said unease passage: '1 1 In testimony my hand of the class described, the r 'body ii nto-a primarychamberandza second-v aryi'chamber, a c fluid .inlet' communicating With'said primary chamber and a fluid out- 'i let, communicating with: saidivseco-ndary it I chamber, an opening'through said dividing, v r means Wherebyfluid may flow through said f chambers from .saidinlet to said outlet aring having an internal double seat; in said 1 opening-a tubular strainer-innit adapted to seaton one side of said seat,..and ashut-ofl said seat;

a valve adapted torseat on the-'other sideof ,5. In a device of itheclass described, the 7 combination ofLa-body havinga strainer 1 I w i' chamber formed therein, a fluid inlet opening for said strainer chamber, a ring Within said 7 opening having an internal double seat," a"

tubular strainer unit Withinlsaid chamber having an inlet mouthseated on oneside-o-f said seat, a shut-off valve adapted to seat on I' the opposite side of-said seat, and a fluid outlet for saidchamber.

combination of: a body,la Wall dividing said body-into a primary'chambe'r and-1a secondary cha'mben'a fluid inlet communicating let communicating with said secondary the r with said primary chamber andia fluid outchamber, anopening in said Wall, aseco-nd Wall Within said body forming a tertiary chamber between said secondaryflchamber' and said outlet, a passage in said'second Wall,

a tubular strainer unit in said secondary chamber having oneend thereof positioned "in said opening, a closure plug adapted to f 'fit over-said pe nin,1 3;, anda control valve "for controlling the rate of fioWf of fluid thru said a' device of the class describedythe f combination of a body, a Wall'dividing said body into a primaryfohamber and a secondi :ary' chamber, a fluid inlet communicating with said primary chamberand a fluid outlet communicating Withsaid secondarycham- I her, an opening. in saidwall, a second Wall within said body forming a'tertiary chamber between said secondary chamber and said outlet, a 'passagein said second wall, "a dou I ble seat-f'member in said opening, a-tubular strainer unit in said secondary chamber havmember, a fshut-ofl valve in said-primary of said member, and a control valvejfor coning one end thereof seated on one side of said 7 other; 'endx'of said unit whereby'residue will trollingthe radar-flowiofffliiiu thru said be retained by gravity in said unit, a shuti whereo fllghavehereunto set i at 'Los' rAn'gele's, California, this as f 

